If you know me, you know that I am marrying my dream CrossFit man in May. If you don’t know me, now you know at least that much. You should also know that I’ve been a dedicated CrossFitter for 4 years, I am a Level 1 Trainer, and I have been coaching for about a year. Fitness, and now wedding planning, are the biggest parts of my life at the moment.
Last week, I took my wedding gown to be fitted. Needless to say, I was extremely excited about this small, yet meaningful milestone in my life. Little did I know this experience would lead to something much bigger.
When I arrived, the seamstress told me she had another client in the dressing room and asked me to wait. The space was very small; the waiting area, front desk and fitting platform were all one room. The bride came out shortly, and her dress was stunning. She stepped up onto the platform and although I tried to politely ignore their conversation, I could hear everything they said. It didn’t take long for me to figure out what was happening.
“Let me see if I can walk in it.” The bride-to-be said, laughing nervously. As she moved around, I could hear seams breaking. I could see that 5 of the 10 buttons in the back were unbuttoned. She tried sitting. There were more popping sounds. She asked the seamstress if she thought the buttons would close if they added some kind of hooks. The seamstress offered to let half an inch back out on the sides. They went back and forth about her options. The wedding date was less than 3 weeks away. My heart was breaking for this bride.
At one point, the seamstress politely reminded the bride that she was planning to have lost more weight by this point. Let me just note that this bride was not by any means obese. The bride calmly but sadly responded: “I’m trying. My stomach is growling right now.”
After I left, I couldn’t stop replaying that scenario in my mind. I wondered what that bride was doing to lose weight. I wondered if anyone was helping her. Just the fact that she was hungry told me she was doing something wrong. I wished I could go back and talk to her, guide her, and teach her what I know, keep her accountable. I thought about all the other hundreds of brides going to their dress fittings and alterations appointments, telling their seamstress that they will be losing weight but having absolutely no idea how they’re going do it.
That’s when I realized that I wanted to help and that I actually could. I decided that I wanted to be an advocate for those brides and their families. I want to be on their team! If my very first and only bridal alterations experience brought me into contact with this situation, either it was an extremely fateful crossing of paths, or an extremely common situation.
Either way, I have a plan, and it’s PWRful to say the least.
Marci
General Manager
Healthy Steps Nutrition & CrossFit HSN
